Gauteng Smallholder December 2015-January 2016 | Page 37

VEGETABLES Community supported agriculture Y ou may know of the concept of providing clients with a box of fresh vegetables from your smallholding once a week. However there is concept known as Community Supported Agriculture, where the townies actually buy shares in the crop. They pay the grower at the beginning of the growing season, and then receive a portion of the crops as they're harvested. The produce is supplied over a set number of weeks of the season. This is in principle a win-win situation. Farmers earn important early-season revenue and have a guaranteed market for their produce. Barring a disastrous harvest, consumers enjoy overall lower food costs, field-fresh produce, and greater access to high-demand fruits and vegetables like long-stem strawberries and heirloom tomatoes. Some farms have spring, summer, autumn, and even winter shares. Typically, there is a drop-off site or sites where CSA members pick up their weekly shares, or they come directly to the plot. As the grower, you get paid early in the season, before you have to spend on seeds and labour, so your cash flow is easier. And, CSAs allow you to connect better with your community, really letting you get to know the people who want your food. You can adjust your offerings to their desires and needs and create a more successful, responsive business. To effectively market your Continued on page 36 BIODYNAMIC AGRI Assessment is according to From page 34 in the ground for a specified period of time. When the preparations are finished, they have the appearance of well-ripened compost, with the exception of the valerian preparation, which is in a liquid form. They are then added to compost heaps. All activities such as seed sowing, cultivation and harvesting are timed according to cosmic and seasonal rhythms. The Biodynamic Agriculture Association of Southern Africa regards Demeter certification as the benchmark for biodynamic practice. Demeter is the certification for biodynamic farming and food. internationally agreed Demeter International Standards. The BDAASA is a non-profit, voluntary association of individuals who are practicing and supporting the practice of, or simply, are interested in learning more about biodynamic farming. They offer a two year, farm based training programme. Applications are open throughout the year. For more information or to request a prospectus, email the academic administrator: [email protected] or phone [phone] during office hours.